Double-chain window or door operator

ABSTRACT

A door or window operator includes a motor-driven double-chain operator with two chain members in a substantially closed operator housing separately in engagement with a rotating drive member and joined in a back-to-back arrangement. The chain members include links having hinge parts with parallel rotational axes oriented transversely to the direction of propagation of the chain member for engagement with neighboring chain links in the same chain member and having a back surface provided with zip engagement members for engaging corresponding engagement members on the back surfaces of adjacent links in the other chain member for securing the chain members in the joined operator member against displacement transversely to the opening/closing direction. The chain members allow a mutual displacement between neighboring links in the direction of the rotational axes and the separate chain paths extend only in a part of the housing in a plane common with the outlet openings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an operator for opening and closing adoor or a window, comprising a motor-driven double-chain operator withtwo chain members, both flexible in one direction only, said chainmembers being accommodated in the closed position of the door or thewindow, in a substantially closed operator housing, in which the chainmembers are individually in engagement with a rotating drive member incommunication with outlet openings for the chain members, and separatechain paths connected therewith, from which the chain members may bejoined in a back-to-back arrangement for the provision of a rigidoperator member, the two chain members being composed of chain linkshaving hinge parts with parallel rotational axes oriented transverselyto the direction of propagation of the chain member in the associatedchain path in the operator housing for engagement with neighbouringchain links in the same chain member and having a back surface providedwith zip-like engagement members for engagement with correspondingengagement members on the back surfaces of adjacent chain links in theother chain member for securing the chain members in the joined operatormember against displacement transversely to the opening/closingdirection, whereby the substantially closed operator housing and coupledfree ends of the chain members are connected with profile members of theframe and sash structures of the door or the window, said profilemembers being positioned opposite one another and extending transverselyto the opening/closing direction of the door or the window.

GB-A-422,781 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,182 disclose window operators ofthis type with a double-chain operator, in which the two chain membersin the housing are guided in separate chain paths, which throughouttheir entire length are bound to extend in a common plane, whereby adesired length of the operator member composed of the chain membersrequires a comparatively bulky housing.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

On this background, the object of the invention is to provide a door orwindow operator of the type described, by means of which the operatorhousing for a given desired length of the operator member may be madesubstantially more compact.

To meet this object a door or window operator according to the inventionis characterized in that in each chain member the hinge parts of thechain links are designed such that during propagation of the chainmember in the operator housing a mutual displacement is allowed betweenneighbouring chain links in the chain member in the direction of therotational axes, and that the separate chain paths only in a part of thehousing extend in a plane common with the outlet openings.

Due to this mutual displaceability of the chain links the chain pathsare not bound to extend in one plane, but may extend in two or morelevels partly overlapping one another, the chain members being movablebetween such different levels during their propagation in the chainpaths, for instance over ramp like connecting sections. Hereby, asubstantially bigger freedom of choice in respect of the design of theoperator housing is obtained and the possibility of a more compactdesign of the housing for a given desired length of the operator membercomposed of the chain members.

It should be noted in this connection that propagation of a single-chainin two levels in an operator housing is known per se from EP-BL-0 600105 and EP-B1-0 620 890.

In a preferred embodiment the hinge parts in each chain link comprise apin member of substantially hook-shaped cross section and a guide memberformfitting therewith, said guide member being open at at least one of apair of opposite side faces of the chain link.

The mutual displaceability of the chain links in each of the two chainmembers has the effect that the individual chain links in a chain memberare not in themselves in secured connection with the neighbouring chainlinks, but such a secured connection is established partly by the designof the operator housing and the chain paths, which limit the mutualdisplaceability of the chain links, partly through the lockingengagement between two chain members when joined into the rigid operatormember.

By a comparatively simple and appropriate design of the operatorhousing, said common plane may be formed by a lower housing part, onechain path extending in its entirety in said lower housing part, whereasthe second chain path over a substantial part of its length extends inan upper housing part overlapping said one path and continuing in saidcommon plane via a ramp.

Particularly in case of comparatively big and heavy windows, it wouldnormally be preferred to use more than one operator. By means of analternative embodiment of a door or window operator according to theinvention, it becomes possible to place such operators with a compactdesign of the housing appropriately at the corners between the bottomand side members of the frame and sash structures due to the fact thatoutside said part of the housing the chain paths are helically shapedwith an axis substantially perpendicular to said common plane. The chainpaths may then be accommodated in chain storages which are mounted onthe frame side members or possibly built into them.

Further advantageous embodiments are stated in the dependent claim.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be explained in the following with respect to theschematic drawing, in which

FIG. 1 shows sections of the operator housing in an embodiment of awindow operator according to the invention,

FIG. 2 the housing shown in FIG. 1 with a built in drive mechanism forchain members,

FIG. 3 an enlarged section of FIG. 2 for illustrating the propagation ofa chain member in a chain path having differing levels,

FIG. 4 a further enlarged section for illustration of the engagement ofa drive member with a chain link in a chain member,

FIGS. 5-7 an embodiment of a single chain link,

FIG. 8 an enlarged section for illustration of the joining of two chainmembers into a rigid operator member, and

FIG. 9 a helically wound chain storage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The operator housing shown in FIGS. 1-3 is composed of an upper andlower housing part 1 and 2, which may be made as cast shell profiles,and of which the upper housing part 1 for the provision of asubstantially closed housing is closed upwards by a cover plate (notshown). When used as a window or door operator for a window or a doorwith an openable sash structure, the operator housing will normally bemounted on a sash or frame profile which is perpendicular to theopening/closing direction, whereas the free end of the double operatormember, which is composed of the chain members described in detail inthe following, will be mounted on the opposite frame or sash profile asknown per se from the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,182.

In the upper housing part 1 a chain path 3 is provided, which from aninterior partition wall 4 defining a space in the housing part 1intended for accommodation of drive members extends through a firstlinear section 3 a, a substantially semicircular transition section 3 bat one end of the housing part 1 and a section 3 c in parallel with aside wall of the housing part towards a ramp 3, through which thesection 3 c joins a section 3 e provided in the lower housing part 2,said section 3 e ending through a 90° bend in a chain outlet opening 5.

In the section of the lower housing part 2 not occupied by the ramp 3 dand the section 3 e of the chain path 3, a second chain path 6 isprovided having two part sections 6 a, 6 b in parallel with side wallsof the housing part 3, said part sections being connected through asubstantially semicircular transition section 6 c, the part section 6 bending through a 90° bend in a chain outlet opening 7 positionedside-by-side with the chain outlet opening 5 separated therefrom by apartition wall 8 constituting a separation between the chain path 6 andthe section 3 e of the chain path 3 extending in the lower housing part2.

The bends of the chain path sections 3 e and 6 b is made withsubstantially the same radius of curvature as the semicirculartransition sections 3 b and 6 c.

Even though the chain paths 3 and 6 in FIGS. 1 and 2 are shown withdifferent length, it should be understood that they have preferablymainly the same length, which may be obtained by increasing the lengthof the section of the lower housing part 2, which comprises the partsections 6 a-6 c of the chain path 6.

The chain paths 3 and 6 provided in the housing parts 1 and 2 thusextend only over a part of their length in a plane common with theoutlet openings 5 and 7, said plane consisting of the bottom 9 of thelower housing part 2.

In the embodiment shown, the chain paths 3 and 6 are substantiallythroughout their length limited by elevated portions 10 forming guidesfor the propagation of the chain members described in the following. Theguiding of the chain members during the propagation on the chain paths 3and 6 may, however, take place in a different manner, for instance bymeans of rib-shaped guide means or the like provided in the bottom ofthe chain paths or in upper walls therefor, for instance in the inclinedupper wall 3 f for the ramp section 3 d for engagement withcorresponding guide members in one or both opposite side surfaces 23 and24 of the chain members 18.

The drive members accommodated in the upper housing part 1 comprise inthe embodiment shown two worm members 11 and 12 with opposite pitch andpositioned in the housing on each side of the outlet openings 5 and 7.As shown in FIG. 2, the worm members 11 and 12 are placed on a commonshaft 13 extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing andpositioned such relative to the partition wall 14 formed by the bottom14 of the upper housing part 1 that the worm members 11 and 12 throughopenings 15 and 16 are brought into engagement with two respective chainmembers during their propagation in the part sections 3 d and 6 b of thechain paths 3 and 6.

The worm members 11 and 12, which through the common shaft 13 isconnected with a drive motor (not shown) with reversible rotationaldirection, are as shown provided with helical ribs 17, which, asexplained in detail in the following, engage a helical groove in eachside surface of each of a number of successive chain links in the twochain members.

In FIG. 2 and in the enlarged section in FIG. 3 it is also shown how asingle chain link 18 and a number of coherent chain links is guided viathe ramp 3 d from the chain path sections 3 a-3 c positioned in theupper housing part to the section 3 e situated in the lower housing part2. As will be seen from FIG. 3, but explained in detail in thefollowing, the chain links are designed with hinge parts 19 and 20 withparallel rotational axes oriented transversely to the direction ofpropagation in the associated chain path, such that each chain link 18via these hinge parts 19 and 20 is in engagement with neighbouring chainlinks in the same chain member.

According to the invention these hinge parts 19 and 20 are, as will beexplained in the following, designed such that during the propagation ofthe chain members in the operator housing, as shown in FIG. 3, theyallow a mutual displacement between neighbouring chain links 18 in thedirection of the rotational axes.

The engagement between a worm member 11 and a number of successive chainlinks 18 in one of the two chain members 21 and 22 are illustrated inthe enlarged section in FIG. 4.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5-7 of a chain link 18, the hinge partscomprise a pin member 19 with substantially hook-shaped cross sectionand a guide member 20 formfitting therewith, which, in the embodimentshown, is open at two opposite side surfaces 23 and 24 of the chainlink. The guide member 20 may alternatively be closed at the end facingupwards of the chain member advanced on the chain path 3, thedisplaceability, which is a prerequisite for the invention, being stillattainable. The pin member 19 and the guide member is oriented in such amanner that the rotational axes of the chain link 18 becomesubstantially perpendicular to the side surfaces 23 and 24, and to makethe displacement between the chain links 18, shown in FIG. 3, possibleduring the propagation of the chain member 21 on the ramp section 3 d,the pin member 19 and the guide member 20 have a length b, which isadapted relative to the distance a between the two rotational axes 25and 25 for a chain link 18 in such manner, that the chain member 21 maybe fed from the upper housing part 1 to the lower housing part 2 via aramp section 3 d having a comparatively high pitch, for instance, asshown in FIG. 2, approx. 20°, the mutual engagement between theindividual chain links being retained. In the embodiment shown thelength b is slightly bigger than the distance a.

Substantially perpendicular to the side surfaces 23 and 24, each chainlink 18 has a back surface 27 and relative thereto an opposite guidesurface 28. Since the chain links in the embodiment shown are mutuallyidentical in the two chain members 21 and 22, but are positioned inmirror symmetry as shown in FIG. 8, two grooves 29 and 30 are providedin each chain link 18 for engagement with the worm members 11 or 12.Each of the grooves 29 and 30 are helically shaped with a pitchcorresponding to the pitch of the helical ribs 17 on the worm members 11and 12 and are open towards partly each of the respective side surfaces23 and 24, towards partly the respective guide surface 28 opposite theback surface 27.

In the guide surface 28 each chain link 18 is in the embodiment shownprovided with a guide rib 32 for abutment on the adjacent elevatedportion 10 in the chain path 3 or 6 in question. As shown i FIG. 7, theguide rib 31 is inclined under an angle v corresponding to the pitch ofthe ramp section 3 d in the operator housing, such that the chain links18 in the chain member advanced via the chain path 3, during thepropagation on the ramp section 3 d maintains the same orientation ofthe rotational axes 25 and 26 as in the plane sections 3 a-3 c and 3 eof the chain oath 3. Instead of the guide rib 31, the chain links 18 maybe provided with other means for safe guidance of the chain members 21and 22 on the chain paths 3 and 6, and in this connection also on theramp section 3 d.

With a view to engagement with chain links in the other chain member,zip-like engagement means are provided in the back surface 27 of eachchain link 18 midway between the side surfaces 23 and 24, saidengagement means having in the embodiment shown the shape of aprotruding cam 32, which at one end is provided with a recess 33 and atthe other end with a pin member 34, said recess and pin member engaging,at the joining of chain links 18 from the two chain members 21 and 22into the double operator member 35, as shown in FIG. 8, a pin member 34and a recess 33 in the back surfaces 27 of two adjacent chain members 18in the other chain member, respectively.

In extension of the protruding cam 32, at the front end thereof, seen inthe direction of propagation, the back surface 27 is provided with anabutment 36 for the protruding cam 32 from the back surface 27 on theadjacent chain link 18 in the second chain member lying immediately infront of the joined operator member.

On each side of the protruding cam 32 the back surface of each chainlink 18 has the shape of a curved guide surface 37 with a curvaturecorresponding to the semicircular transition sections 3 b and 6 c of thechain paths 3 and 6 and the corresponding curve radius of the cornersbetween the parts of the chain path sections 3 d and 6 b extending inthe longitudinal direction of the operator housing and perpendicularthereto in connection with the outlet openings 5 and 7.

The particular design of the chain links 18 according to the inventionopens up the possibility of other embodiments of the chain paths andconsequently of the operator housing than those shown in FIGS. 1-3.Thus, each chain path may outside the part of the operator housing, inwhich they as a consequence of the joining of the chain members into adouble operator member have to extend in a common plane, as shown inFIG. 9 in respect of a single chain member 38, be helical with an axissubstantially perpendicular to the common plane, in which the two chainmembers are joined into a double operator member.

I claim:
 1. An operator for opening and closing a door or a windowhaving frame and sash structures, the door or window being movable froman open or closed position in an opening or closing direction, theoperator comprising a motor-driven double-chain operator with two chainmembers (21, 22), both flexible in one direction only, said chainmembers being accommodated in the closed position of the door or thewindow, in a substantially closed operator housing, in which the chainmembers (21, 22) are individually in engagement with a rotating drivemember (11, 12) in communication with outlet openings (5, 7) for thechain members, and separate chain paths (3, 6) connected therewith, fromwhich the chain members (21, 22) may be joined in a back-to-backarrangement for the provision of a joined operator member, each of thetwo chain members (21, 22) being composed of chain links (18) havinghinge parts (19, 20) with parallel rotational axes (25, 26) orientedtransversely to a direction of propagation of the respective chainmember in the associated chain path in the operator housing forengagement with neighbouring chain links in the respective chain member,the chain links of each of the chain members having back surfaces (27)provided with engagement members (32) for engagement with correspondingengagement members on the back surfaces of adjacent chain links (18) inthe other chain member for securing the chain members in the joinedoperator member against displacement transversely to the opening andclosing directions, whereby the substantially closed operator housingand coupled free ends of the chain members are connected with profilemembers of the frame and sash structures of the door or the window, saidprofile members being positioned opposite one another and extendingtransversely to the opening and closing directions of the door or thewindow, characterized in that in each chain member (21, 22) the hingeparts (19, 20) of the chain links (18) are designed such that duringpropagation of the respective chain member (18) in the operator housinga mutual displacement is allowed between neighbouring chain links (18)in each chain member (21, 22) in a direction of the rotational axes (25,26), and that the separate chain paths (3, 6) only in a part (2) of thehousing extend in a plane (9) common with the outlet openings (5, 7). 2.A door or window operator according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe hinge parts (19, 20) in each chain link (18) comprise a pin member(19) of substantially hook-shaped cross section and a guide member (20)formfitting therewith, said guide member being open at at least one of apair of opposite side faces (23, 24) of the chain link (18).
 3. A dooror window operator according to claim 2, characterized in that therotational axes (25, 26) of the hinge parts are substantiallyperpendicular to said opposite side faces (23, 24).
 4. A door or windowoperator according to claim 2, characterized in that the pin member (19)and the guide member (20) of each of the chain links (18) has a length(b) which is equal to or bigger than the distance (a) between therotational axes (25, 26) of a chain link with neighbouring chain links.5. A door or window operator according to claim 2, characterized in thatthe drive member for each of the two chain members (21, 22) comprises atleast one worm member (11, 12) with opposite pitch direction placed inthe housing on each side of the respective outlet opening (5, 7) andmounted on a shaft (13) common to both drive members which is parallelto said plane (9) common to the outlet openings, said worm members (11,12) being provided with helical ribs (17) in engagement with a helicallyshaped groove (29, 30) in a guide face (28) of each of a number ofsucceeding chain links ( 18) in each chain member.
 6. A door or windowoperator according to claim 5, characterized in that the chain links(18) in the two chain members are mutually identical but arranged inmirror symmetry, and that said grooves (29, 30) are provided in saidopposite side faces (23, 24) of each chain member.
 7. A door or windowoperator according to claim 6, characterized in that said grooves (29,30) in the chain links (18) are open partly towards each of said sidefaces (23, 24), partly towards an adjacent guide face (28) opposite theback surface (27).
 8. A door or window operator according to claim 7,characterized in that the chain paths (3, 6) are defined by elevatedportions (10) serving as guides for the chain links (18) and that thechain links (18) in said guide face (28) are provided with a protrudingguide rib (31) for abutment on the adjacent elevated portion (10) of atleast one of the chain paths.
 9. A door or window operator according toclaims 8, characterized in that the guide rib (31) in said guide face(28) is inclined with a pitch (v) corresponding to the pitch of saidramp (3 d).
 10. A door or window operator according to claim 5,characterized in that the housing has upper and lower housing parts andthat the worm members (11, 12) with said common shaft (13) extendsubstantially in a partition wall (14) between said upper and lowerhousing parts (1, 2) and engage the chain members through openings (15,16) in said partition wall (14).
 11. A door or window operator accordingto claims 1, characterized in that said engagement members in the backsurface (27) of each chain link comprise a protruding cam (32), which atone end has a recess (33) and at the other end a pin member (34), saidrecess (33) and pin member (34) on a chain link in one chain member ofthe joined operator member engaging a pin member (34) and a recess (33),respectively, in the back surfaces (27) of two neighbouring chain links(18) in the other chain member.
 12. A door or window operator accordingto claim 11, characterized in that on the back surface (27) of eachchain link (18) in extension of said protruding cam (32) an abutment(36) is provided for the protruding cam (32) from the back surface of anadjacent chain link in the other chain member.
 13. A door or windowoperator according to claim 1, characterized in that the chain paths (3,6) are defined by elevated portions (10) serving as guides for the chainlinks (18) and that each chain link in its back surface (27) outsidesaid protruding cam (32) has a curved guide surface (37).
 14. A door orwindow operator according to claim 13, characterized in that each chainpath (3, 6) comprises substantially linear portions (3 a, 3 c, 3 e; 6 a,6 b) connected through substantially particular curve sections (3 b, 6c) (3 a, 6 c) having a curvature corresponding to said curved guidesurface (37).
 15. A door or window operator according to claim 1,characterized in that said plane (9) common with the outlet openings isformed by a lower housing part (2), one chain path (6) extending in itsentirety in said lower housing part (2), whereas the other chain path(3) over a substantial part (3 a-3 c) of its length extends in an upperhousing part (1) overlapping said one path (6) and continuing in saidplane common with the outlet openings via a ramp (3).
 16. A door orwindow operator according to claim 1, characterized in that outside saidhousing part the chain paths (38) are helical with an axis substantiallyperpendicular to said plane common with the outlet openings.